Julie Nutting's Class

 

I recently took a class with Julie Nutting, artist and author of Collage Couture.  She taught us how to make these wonderful  Valentine paper dolls.  Three different dolls all with the same body.  I love them.  Pick up her book.  This is something I could make daily and feel like I really created something cute.

 

 

 

The other day my friend Cynthia came over and we created canvases together.  These are unusual colors for me to use.  I usually love the cool tones…purples, pinks, blues, and teals.  The texture on this canvas was created with encaustic wax, which was fun to play with.

 

 

Here is Cynthia’s beautiful encaustic piece.  It has a lovely old world look to it. 

 

It was a fun day and I hope we do it again soon.

 

My next paper doll is going to be a larger canvas.  I think I want to go big on the dress, with vibrant colors.  Stay tuned!

Technorati Tags: Julie Nutting,Collage Couture

Fun For Me

Prior to Christmas, I made two paintings that I liked quite a bit.  They were both created as white elephant gifts for the two creative book clubs I participate in.  The parameters of the white elephant swap was that the gifts had to be handmade and they had to be something I would want to keep.  I think I accomplished that.  I had a lot of fun painting them and I really wanted to keep both of these paintings. 

I was so excited that at both clubs the paintings were very well received.  My girlfriend affectionately calls them my "big head girls."  

By the end of the swaps, the paintings went to two lovely ladies that I feel confident are happy with them.  If I couldn't keep them, I am happy that they went to good homes and will be well loved.

A Fairy Class with Suzi Blu

My friend Suzi Blu is going home to New Jersey.

Before she goes, we had to fit in one last class.  We created a pretty fairy painting.

We started by drawing our faces in pencil.  Then we added a couple of different textures, such as molding paste.

We used stencils for some of the design.  The rest of the textures were added with a knife. 

Suzi, Christine, Gina and Anna

Here's our little group of students.  At this point we have completed the first day.  Need to let the texture elements dry completely.

The next day, we began adding color with sprays, paints and powders.  It was an awesome process.

Proud of my painting.

Gina and Anna with their beautiful paintings.

Suzi caught a few moments in between helping her students and not only created the painting above, but also worked on several of her unfinished projects.

This was our inspiration piece that Suzi actually created for the class.

It was a super informative class because of all the techniques we learned.  It was a wonderful, rich class because of the pretty face we learned to draw.  It was a fabulous experience because I learned to paint a beautiful fairy and gained so much more confidence in my art.  Suzi is not only a fabulous artist and teacher, but she also has a unique ability to reinforce confidence that one doesn't even realize they already possess.

Well, now that my Suzi is leaving, it will be online classes for me for awhile.  Rest assured, I'll be saving my pennies to visit my Jersey girl very soon. 

Technorati Tags: Suzi Blu

Wounded Heart

Can you tell I've been going to therapy lately.  Yes, right in the middle of some messy emotional stuff, I decided it was time to finish this project.  What I came up with is a Wounded Heart. I suppose it's my wounded heart. The main substrate is a piece of cardboard covered with casting plaster called Rigid Wrap.  It can be purchased at Dick Blick or Michaels.  The heart and the wings are also card board covered with Rigid Wrap.  Then lots of paint and a little collage.  I learned this at Jackie Baxted's art meet-up.  I found this hysterical video on how to make a mask.  These ladies are awesome.  They should be on TV. 

 

My journal page with a Suzi Blu art stamp and lots of paint, watercolor pencils and ink. 

Technorati Tags: Suzi Blu,Jackie Baxted,Dick Blick

Seaside Soiree and Charity Wings

For three days I was in absolute Seaside Soiree sensory euphoria.

In fact, even the last few days of reflection on my weekend are only now just beginning to be infiltrated by the reality of chores, grocery shopping...you know, the real life stuff.

The first annual Seaside Soiree was like being at an incredible entertainment park with some of my favorite people. My mind was empty of everything but having fun.

Everywhere we looked, everywhere we turned, there was something amazing going on including, making new fabulous friends and spending time with some of our favorite friends.

The classes were like being on a wild ride.

The teachers who, in my opinion, are some of the best included, Liz Hicks, Suzi Blu, Miss Vicki Breslin, Alisa Burke, Michelle Cummings and Melody Ross.

We made paintings, royal princess beaded crowns, sea shelled frames, stamped journal books, painted canvas purses and more.

Like fairy princesses, Elena, Sheila and the wonderful Charity Wings fairies gave us gifts throughout the entire event. Every class included gifts. Every time we went to bed, we had gifts on our beautiful tye dyed pillow. Actually, I should have brought an extra suitcase for all my projects and presents.

We stayed at the Oceanside Marina Suites, which was located right on the harbor. The accommodations included 2 bedroom, 2 bath suites that were literally 15 feet from the water.

Oceanside, California in the winter.

The view right outside our suite.


A man and his bird.

Harbor...we could hear the fog horn at night. So peaceful here.

Sally and Georgia

Living room in our suite

Kitchen in our suite.


Best picture of the night, Alicia and Kathryn having fun.

Me and my friend.

Elena and Jessie being cute! Awe Ha

Miss Vicki, Suzi and Maryanne

Miss Vicki and her baubles and bangles

Elena, Miss Vicki and Alicia telling secrets in our room.

Elena's birthday present from Kelly.

Hangin' with my good friend Sally.

Kat, Amy and Glenna at sunset.

Roommates, Miss Vicki and Camille

Princess Elena provided us with bacon so that every morning we could wake up to the smells and sounds of bacon cooking.

CSS Book club friends, Cynthia, Kat, Alicia, Kathryn

Crown time.

Danette & Kat

Suzi Blu Stamps

Suzi stamp used in a journal page

Colored with Copics Markers

I really have fun with Suzi Blu stamps. Suzi is a world renowned artist and I just can't get enough of her petite doll style. Her stamps are awesome in a card. I like to color them with paint, pencils and markers. I love the intensity of the colors with markers. I love to use them in collage or in journal pages. I thought this little Petite Girl would be perfect popping out of a birdhouse on my journal page. Go to Suzi Blu's website for a wonderful video and instructions on making your own collage journal page.

You can find Suzi Stamps at your local scrapbooking store. If they don't have them, ask the manager to order them from Unity Stamp Company. In fact, go to Unity yourself and order stamps. Right now, they are having a 40% off sale.
Or, go to the Eclectic Paperie for the full line.

More Soldered Bottles

I told you I was on the hunt for some more bottles for soldering. I found this beautiful blue bottle in an antique store in La Mesa. It matches my first bottle. Now I have a pair of pretty blue, soldered bottles.

Elena Etcheverry and I spent the day at Suzi Blu's house soldering. The temperature outside was in the 90's, but we thought it would be a good idea to solder out on the patio (first mistake). Since none of us were especially experienced at soldering, it turned into a bit of "the blind leading the blind." In fact, it was downright scary at times. Since we were live on the web, many people across the world witnessed this fun but rather hysterical episode. Suzi was getting wild with the soldering iron and I was getting so nervous that she would burn herself that I had to unplug her. Then she dropped her bottle, which, of course, broke. Elena came to the rescue and foil taped and soldered the broken bottle along the JAGGED EDGE (eek). By now, I was a basket case. In the end, the broken bottle became a very interesting wind chime for Suzi's patio.

As the day progressed, we were so hot and near crazed. At one point my two friends looked at me and freaked out. I was red as a tomato and looking like a total stroke victim. Suzi immediately made me go inside and we were done...not only with our bottles but cooked well-done from the sun.

I must say, we made some pretty bottles, we laughed, and I'm happy to say, no one was hurt during the filming of that event.

This is a close up of the original bottle I soldered at the Art Bar in Miss Vicky's class.

Tags with Claire

Tags were made with Tim Holtz distress inks, grundge board and grundge paper. My friend Sally and I had fun grunging up the grundge board in a class with Claire, at Stamping Details. These are all Claire's clever and creative designs.

Out of The Box at Urban Barn

What’s more fun than a group of girlfriends getting together and sharing art. It’s definitely one of my favorite things. Tonight our Out of the Box Book Club gathered at the Urban Barn in Escondido. What an awesome, inspirational place. It’s a store in a warehouse setting with tons of fun vignettes of vintage and shabby chic. I don’t think there’s another place in San Diego that comes close to matching the unique experience this store offers. We are so thrilled that Urban Barn owner, Linda, decided to move into our neighbor hood from Temecula.

We just set up a couple of tables and chairs right in the front of the store. The doors were up, the sun was setting and it couldn't have been a more beautiful night.

Glenna's gorgeous banner

Kat's Happy Girl painting - taught by Suzi Blu

Pam went to the CREATE Retreat in Chicago and learned the techniques for this custom book.

Pam also shared this beautiful collage.

Each cycle we do an art exchange. This cycle it was birds.

Here are Bonnie's fabulous soldered charm birds.

Kat's chipboard birds with butterfly hanger

Elena's creative magnetic boards with a little birdie magnet.

Allison's sweet paper piecing birds

Danette's cute little fat birds all made with circles.

Sheila's awesome embellished birds using items that she currently had on hand.

Pam's gorgeous smooch birdies.

Judy took an example from our book and added her own flair, which turned out adorable.

Glenna's lovely vintage bird tag.

We each took home quite a collection of pretty birds.

We couldn't end the night without a tune from our lovely Book Club leader, Elena.